Tracking 66 State of the Union proposals

President Obama delivered the first State of the Union Address of his second term Feb. 12, laying out domestic and foreign policy goals for the coming year and beyond.

As with most State of the Union speeches, Obama's remarks were heavy on specifics and sweeping in scope. USA TODAY has taken an inventory of every proposal, pledge, goal and call to action the president mentioned in his remarks, which are listed below, and will track the status of each item throughout the year. Each topic is listed in the order it was mentioned in Obama's speech. Check back throughout 2013 as we add links to each item with updates on what actions have been taken by the administration and Congress.

1. Reduce deficit by an additional $1.5 trillion

"We are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction that economists say we need to stabilize our finances. Now we need to finish the job. And the question is, how?"

"On Medicare, I'm prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission."

"We'll bring down costs by changing the way our government pays for Medicare, because our medical bills shouldn't be based on the number of tests ordered or days spent in the hospital; they should be based on the quality of care that our seniors receive."

"To hit the rest of our deficit reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have already suggested, and save hundreds of billions of dollars by getting rid of tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and the well-connected."

6. Pass a tax package

"Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit."

"A year and a half ago, I put forward an American Jobs Act that independent economists said would create more than 1 million new jobs. And I thank the last Congress for passing some of that agenda. I urge this Congress to pass the rest."

"Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio. … So tonight, I'm announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing hubs, where business will partner with the Department of Defense and Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America."

"Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy – every dollar. … Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the space race. We need to make those investments."

"But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. … I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago."

13. Take executive action to tackle climate change if there is no congressional action

"But if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy."

14. Generate more wind energy

"Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let's generate even more."

"The natural gas boom has led to cleaner power and greater energy independence. We need to encourage that. And that's why my administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits."

"Let's cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years. We'll work with the states to do it. Those states with the best ideas to create jobs and lower energy bills by constructing more efficient buildings will receive federal support to help make that happen."

20. Create "Fix-It-First" program

"So tonight, I propose a 'Fix-It-First' program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country."

"I'm also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods, modern pipelines to withstand a storm, modern schools worthy of our children."

"Right now, there's a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today's rates. … Take a vote, and send me that bill."

23. Expand access to pre-K

"So tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America."

"Let's also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job. Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges. So those German kids, they're ready for a job when they graduate high school. … We need to give every American student opportunities like this."

25. Redesign high schools to better equip grads for a high-tech economy

"Tonight, I'm announcing a new challenge to redesign America's high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy."

26. Reward schools focusing on science, math and that partner with colleges

"And we'll reward schools that develop new partnerships with college and employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering and math."

27. Make affordability a factor in giving federal aid to colleges

"So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid. And tomorrow, my administration will release a new "College Scorecard" that parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criteria – where you can get the most bang for your educational buck."

28. Pass comprehensive immigration bill

"And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities – they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Now is the time to do it."

"Let's offer incentives to companies that hire Americans who've got what it takes to fill that job opening but have been out of work so long that no one will give them a chance anymore."

34. Create jobs rebuilding vacant homes

"Let's put people back to work rebuilding vacant homes in run-down neighborhoods."

35. Partner with downtrodden towns to revive economies

"And this year, my administration will begin to partner with 20 of the hardest-hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet. We'll work with local leaders to target resources at public safety and education and housing."

36. Offer tax credits to businesses that hire

"We'll give new tax credits to businesses that hire and invest."

37. Remove financial burdens to marriage for low-income couples

"And we'll work to strengthen families by removing the financial deterrents to marriage for low-income couples and do more to encourage fatherhood."

38. Draw down troop presence in Afghanistan by 34,000

"Tonight I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan. This drawdown will continue, and by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over."

"We're negotiating an agreement with the Afghan government that focuses on two missions – training and equipping Afghan forces so that the country does not again slip into chaos, and counterterrorism efforts that allow us to purse the remnants of al-Qaeda and their affiliates."

"So in the months ahead, I will continue to engage Congress to ensure not only that our targeting, detention and prosecution of terrorists remains consistent with our laws and system of checks and balances, but that our efforts are even more transparent to the American people and to the world."

43. Prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons in North Korea

"America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the world's most dangerous weapons. The regime in North Korea must know they will only achieve security and prosperity by meeting their international obligations."

"We will keep the faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care, including mental health care, for our wounded warriors – supporting our military families, giving veterans the benefits and education and job opportunities that they have earned."